Glass manufacture.



A. A. ICENHOUR.

GLASS MANUFACTURE.

APPucMmN FILED FEB I9. 1914.

Patent-ed Oct. 9,1917.

3 SHEETSSHEETI 8 1 ruantoi Noun 94f A. A. ICENHOUR.

GLASS MANUFACTURE.

APPLlCATION FILED FEB. 19. 1914.

1,242,444. Patented Oct. 39, 1917.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

A. A. ICENHOUR.

GLASS MANUFACTURE.

APPLICATION FILED FEB. 19.1914.

1,242g444. Patented Oct. 9,1917.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

amoewtoz [Mia/war UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

ALBERT A. ICFENHOUB: OF ARNOLD, PENNSYLVANIA, ASSIGNOB, BY DIRECT LAND MESNE ASSIGNMENTS, OF ONE-TWENTIETH TO PITTSBURGH PLATE GLASS COM- PANY, PITTSBURGH, PENNSYLVANIA,- A CORPORATION 'OF PENNSYLVANIA, FOUR ONE-HUNDRED-AND-SIXTIETHS T0 0. R. SAMMONS, 0F PITTSBURGH; PENN- SYLVA IA, ,FOURTEEN dNE-HUNDRED-AND-SIXTIETHS TO LEONARD K. GUILER,

NINE

E-HUNDRED AND-SIXTIETHS TO BENJAMIN H. THOMPSON, NINE ONE- HUNDRED-AND-SIXTIETHS TO SAMUEL A. GILMORE, AND ONE-FORTIETH T0 ARTHUR E. SIXSMITH.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, ALBERT AKICENHOUR, a citizen-of the United States, residing at Arnold, in the county of VVestmoreland and State of Pennsylvania, have invented certain new and useful Improvements iri Glass Manufacture, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to animproved process and apparatus for the manufacture of sheet glass, and more particularly to the art of continuously drawing sheet glass.

The primary object of this invention is to dispense with as far as possible the use of manual labor and substitute therefor mechanismfwhich will carry on the complete operation of continuously drawing sheet glass, and to accomplish this the said invention is directed more especially. to the establishing and maintenance of the proper temperature of the different portions of the glass from whichthe sheetis drawn, and to the arrangement and manipulation of certain accessories by which glass may be pro- 'duced in sheet form of substantially uniform width and thickness without having to undergo the various steps of laterally stretching the edges, annealing and flattening the sheet at intermittent periods as is now the common practice.

By my improved process and apparatus I overcome the many difliculties experienced in the effort to draw sheet glass from a mass of molten glass, principally among "which is the difliculty of maintaining the sheet being drawn at a uniform width. This difliculty has been experienced because of the failure have found that the above'diiiiculties may duce sheet glass of anypro-determined to eifectively control the consistency of the metal during the drawing operation, as the natural tendency of any material of plastic formation is to narrow itself through any process of drawing until its width becomes substantially uniform with its thickness. I

be overcome by the use of a drawing receptacle of novel construction, which will be hereinafter, together with its functions, more fully described. x

By, my said invention '1 am able to pro Specification of Letters Patent.

GLASS MANUFACTURE.

window or plate glass by the novel arrange-' Patented Oct. 9, 1917.

Application filed February 19, 1914. Serial No. 819,632.

ment and manipulation of my improved apparatus.

My invention further consists in the novel construction and arrangement of the parts as will more fully appear from the following description in which reference will be had tothe accompanying drawings, which show a form of apparatus Lembodying my said invention, and wherein,

Figure 1, represents in central vertical section a portion of one form of glass tank embody ng my present invention, showing in connection therewith in elevation, ,ap-

paratus in the act of drawing a-sheetjof glass fromsaid tank.

Fig. 2, is an enlarged perspective view of the glass drawing receptacle.

F g. 3, is a vertical transversed sectionof the apparatus on an enlarged scale showing a sheet of glass being drawn.

Fig. 4, is a side view of the conveyer housing showing adjusting mechanism therefor. Fig. 5, is a plan view of the apparatus.

Fig. 6,}is an enlargedtion of the draft bait.

' view ;in cross sec- ,Fig. 7, is a View in erspective of the cross-head guide.

Referring to the accompanying drawings,

especially adapted forcarrying out my llIl' -f,

proved process.

The use of my improved method and paratus may be'adapted to any of theglas'a:

tanks now in common use, and for thepu fi pose of applying my devicQthe-extensior or drawing chamber 1, is constructed by building. out from the maintank; side and end walls comprising. an extension, or dog 7, designed to cover the aperture 5, in the bridge opening. Through the top stone 7, are suitable apertures 8-8, for extending therethrough the elevating shafts 9-9 which are detachably connected to the drawing receptacle 6.

The elevating shafts 9-9 may be at their lower ends connected to the drawing receptacle 6, in any suitable manner, but pref- :erably of such arrangement as shown in the drawings (Fig. 3) wherein the lower terminal of the shaft 9 is bi-seeted vertically and the ends of the tines 119 are curved inwardly so as to registed with, and effectively grip the projecting spline 120, formed in the upper surface of the drawing receptacle 6. To maintain the gripping contact of the extended tines 119, a compressing ring 121, is operatively mounted on the shaft 9 for vertical movement, which being pressed downwardly closes in the curved ends of the tines in operative con nection with the drawing receptacle 6. The elevating shafts 9-9 extend upwardly and are operatively mounted in a fixed standard. 10, for vertical movement by being screw threaded into a'worm gear wheel 11, operatively mounted for rotative movement, and fixedly mounted against verti- .cal movement. Operating to mesh with androtate the wheel 11, is a worm 12, mounted on. the innerend of a horizontal shaft 13, suitably journaled in the upper end of the fixed standard 10, and having at its outer end a suitable hand wheel 14 for rotative movement. Surrounding the vertioal shafts 9-9 covering the end portions extending into the drawing chamber 1, are suitable tubular coverings 15, composed of refractory material for protecting the shafts 9-9. from the heat within the drawing,

chamber 1. By the operation of the hand wheel 1 1, elevating movement is imparted to the shaft 9, which is conveyed to the drawing receptacle 6, which is through such movement immersed in the mass of molten glass in the tank at a predetermined level, and" is maintained at such level by the positive position of the elevating shafts 9-9. .The top stone 7, has an additional aperture 16, of rectangular formation through which the glass drawing bait 17 is adapted to be lowered and through which the sheet of glass is to be upwardly drawn. The drawing bait 17, is attached to a suitable cable 17 which passes out through the tlgrough which the drawing receptacle 1 housing 18, and is suitably connected with an source of motive power.

fiocated above the bridge 4, over the drawing chamber 1 is a movable housing or leer 18, mounted upon suitable rollers for lateral movement, in which is opcratively mounted the glass carrying and drawing mechanism. This mechanism may be of any desired construction though preferably of the design herein shown wherein 19-19, are horizontally disposed rollers mounted on shafts 24-24 for rotative movement.

The shafts upon which the rollers 19-191. are mounted extend through the side walls of the housing and the end of the shaft 24, is mounted inthe fixed journal 20; The

applied to the belt 24 by the movement of the-journal 21, through the set screw 23, to maintain the top surface of the belt 24, in a horizontal line fro'mthe surface of the roller 19 to that of roller 19.

Rotating movement may be conveyed to roller "19, in any suitable manner. I prefer however to mount on one end of the shaft 24 a suitable sprocket wheel 25 which. is operatively connected to s rocket wheel 26 by the sprocket chain 2 The sprocket wheel 26, is mounted on a horizontal shaft 28, WhlCll is suitably journaled in the bear:

able pulley 30 adapted to receive a belt from any suitable source-of motive power.

Located in-the housing 18, and above the plane of the belt 24, is a pair of horizontal rollers 31-31. These rollers are mounted upon suitable shafts 32-32, which extend through the side walls of the housing 18,

and are suitably mounted j in bearings 33-33, in opposite ends of thejourn'al'rod- 341.. The journal 33 is qperatively nounted in the journal bar 34 for lateral movement and is adjusted by turning the adjusting screw 35. I

The journal rod 34 is provided for vertical movement as herein shown. .The ele- 'vating shafts 35 pass through and are suitably threaded in the journal rod 34. The elevating shaft 35 are suitably mounted for rotative movement in the journal 36, and fixedly mounted against vertical movement.

Mounted on the upper end of the elevating Operating to a mesh wlth and rotate the wheel 37 is a worm shaft 35 is a worm gear 37.

38 mounted on the inner end of a horizontal 105 ings 29. Mounted on the shaft 28 is a suit- 4 i shaft 39. having at its outer end. a suitable hand wheel 40, for rotative movement. A-

'similar journal rod and elevating mechanism is'mounted on the opposite side of 5 the housing 18.

The rollers 31 31 are incased within an" endless belt 41, composed of suitable refractory material. The belt41 is adapted to receive suitable tension to maintain its top sur- =i 'face' in a horizontal position by increasing the distance between the rollers 31+31 by the movement of the journal33 in which the shaft 32 of the roller 31 is mounted; The belt 41 is adapted to receive movement from -,its:contact with belt 24 or from the moving Usurface'sof a sheet of glass interposed between the belts-24and 41. I Y

, Located within thehousing 18, and rigidly I fixed to the side walls thereof are tracks 42,

adapted .to carry the cross head 44 shown in Fig. 7. The tracks 42, are composed of suitable angle irons, the horizontal edges of which are adapted to register with the slotted end portions 43, of the 'cross head. The

25 tracks 42 are horizontalfor a portion of their length co -extensive with the horizontal surfaceof the belts 24 and 4-1. At a point. outside of the. rollers 19 and- 31 the tracks 42 are curved downwardly to direct the movement of the crosshead with the bait 17, appended thereto, from a horizontal move ment to a vertical movement.

Located within the housing 18, below the curved portion of the tracks 42, are a plu- 35 rality of bending rolls or idlers l45, over which the bait 17 andthe sheet of glass 45 are-passed in conveying the movement to the sheet of glass from a vertical plane to a horizontal plane. The idlers 145 are com- 40 posed of suitable refractory material prefer-- ably of mica or other. mediums capable of retaining a smooth surface. E

.The drawing receptacle 6, is of such design and construction as to afl'ord a suflicient i buoyancy in itself to maintain its upper surface slightly above the surface level of the glass in the tank. Froin an inspection of Figs. land 2, it will be observed that this receptacle is constructed with an opening 0 through its center, which is rectangular in formation, the cross sectional "length of the opening being approximately the same as the width of the sheet of glass to bedrawn. The rectangular opening 50 extends in an ap- 5 proximately uniform shape upwardly from the bottom of the receptacle, .to a point .where the surface line of the glass'occurs when the receptacle is normally floating in the glass to its line of natural buoyancy. From about this point in the rectangular opening 50, the opposite end faces 51--51 are diverged outwardly at an angle of about thirty degrees above the horizontal a and maintain this inclined surface until the-intersection thereof with the top surface 52 of hardenin ing portion of the outwardly extended the receptacle, as is clearly shown in Fig. 2; The purposes of the particular formation of the drawing receptacle herein shown, and the advantages residing therein are important features in the presentinvention. 7

The receptacle 6, is detachably connected by any suitable meansto the vertically movable shafts 99 to permit of its forced depression within the molten glass 2, and when depressed at a pre-determined position, the molten glass rising within the apertures 50, seeking its natural level with the surface of the glass 2, on the exterior of the receptacle 6, will rise above the line of surface deflection of the faces 5151, and flow outwardly go over the inclined surfaces, a pre-determined distancegoverned by the depth at which the receptacle 6 is depressed in the molten glass below its natural level of buoyancy. In this position, a thin'.feather of glass is created 5 between the line'of natural gla'sslevel and the inclined faces 51-51, of the drawing receptacle 6, and due to the relatively greater mass ofrefractory material under the feather of glass, there is created a proportionately greater cooling effect on the extended feather portion of the glass, than that portion which lies between the vertical side walls of the aperture 50 in the receptacle. m

It is characteristic methods heretofore attempted in dra 3m sheet glass from the main body of a} molten mass, that the sheet-has a tendency to narrow as the drawing operation proceeds, and; this narrowing occurs closely t'o'the molten bodyor point of greatest plasticity in the sheet. By the use of my improved receptacle, I am able to convey to the glass .at this point, a reduction in, plasticity efi'ective only in that portion 195 of the'batch of glass from which the edges of the sheet are drawn.

The primary object of the novel forma tion of the glass containing aperture in the receptacle is, to. cause the glass-to spread out and become relatively cool at such predetermined portions of its area from which the edge portions of the sheet of glassare drawn. This outward' movement of '-the glass is due to the co ined force of thestatic-pressure of the mass of glass, and the capillary attraction 'the inclined surface 51-451 of the receptacle exercises over the I molten glass. Thisreduction ofthe volume of the glass proportionately to the; volume 12'. of the refractory body of the receptacle, creates a novel effect en'the glass of not only aiding in the separation ofthat portion of the glass of which the sheet edges are. drawn, from the greater mass of the molten glass within the tank, but creating a change of tempe atu'refwhich produces a resulting fl'effect in the'sheet edge ,produc;

feather, before it is moved upward in th'e 13o until it has reached the vertical line scribed by the path of the outside edge of drawing operation, which causes the edges of the sheet being drawn, to maintain a substantially vertical line, without the operaelevated bythe movement of the glass drawing the bait 17, that portion of the glass residing over the inclined faces 51-,-51', of

the drawing receptacle 6, moves upwardly.

and inwardly from a point outside of the vertical line of the outside edges of the bait,

the drawing bait, which becomes the edge line of the sheet being drawn. It is characteristic of the movement of the glass in the use of my novel' drawing receptaclefi, to describe the path indicated,'of moving outwardly over the inclined faces 51.-51, and

to then describe an inward curve to the edge line of the sheet, as the sheet is being drawn from-the surface of the glass within the receptacle 6, which is clearly shown by the outline of the sheet 45 in Fig. 3. The

natural tendenc'yof glass to narrow through drawingoperation is by'theuse of my 1m proved drawing receptacle, compensated for in first extending the lass outside of the draft line, before dra is applied thereto-,-and provi ding means for the constant. extension of theglass in this manner during the drawing operation, As the' sheet of glassfis drawn upward from that portion of the molten glass rising up within the receptacle, the supply is derived from an under feed as contra-distinguished from drawing glass from the surface from a molten mass. By these means I am able'to avoid the objectionable features incident to drawing glass from the surface of a molten mass wherein all foreign particles flowing thereon such as cinders, scales, etc, are drawn into the sheet and form blisters, cords and other defects.

In the efforts heretofore attempted to draw sheet glass it has been difficult to procure a definite and uniform thickness to the sheet being drawn, owing to the'variations of the temperature of the molten glass, which was required to be maintained at a fixed degree in relation to the speed at mentof the receptacle.

means by providing fora greater degree of which-the sheet of glass was drawn. By

immersion of the drawing receptacle 6, in the molten glass, when it is desired to draw a sheet of glass of greater thickness, as with the :drawing receptacle immersed at a greater degree, the molten glass rising within the rectangular opening 50, creates a greater volume of glass flo'wing outwardly over the inclined faces-51-51', and by operating the drawing mechanismat a slower solidifies in a greater volume of thick ness and creates a correspondingly thicker edge to the, sheet ofglass being drawnwhich in turn has a governing effect on the thick ness of the entire sheet. Obviously a lesser degree of immersion of the drawing recepf 'tacle 6, and a greater degree of speed of the sheet drawing mechanism ,will 'produc a sheet of glass correspondingly, thinner; U My apparatus further provides for condrawing receptac e 6, are connected at the opposite ends thereof, and maybe operated independently, I can depress one end of the drawing receptacle to a lowerlevel than the trolling the degree of thickness of one (edge of the glass independent from the other, as the means for o eratively immersing the other and thus efiect .the' thickness Of'iihei h Sheet glass being drawn fi ithe ndl of the receptacle 0 a justed, a

The operation of drawmg'a sheet of is as follows:

' The drawing receptacle 6, been immersed in the molten glass 2, for a suili cient period to have properly tempered the glass residing therein, the rollers 31---'31" are elevated to a point which will permit of a suflicient'space between the surface of the horizontal belts 241 and41, t admit ofthe bait 17, and the'cro'ss head 44 to be passed between them, and moved forward until the cross head. 44 has reached the downward curve of the tracks 42 when by its own gravi tation, the bait 17 may be lowered by slack-m ening the cable 17, until the bait 17 passes through the aperture 16, in the top-stone 7,

and through the drawing chamber 1, and

registers with the aperture 50 in the drawin receptacle 6. When the bait has become su 'cientlyheated by itsyicontact with the molten glass within the aperture 50, of the r drawing receptacle 6, to cause the glass to adhere thereto, the end of the cable 17 extending through the aperture 53 in the'rear' end of the housing 18, is suitably connected to the drawing mechanism (not shown).

which is placedlin motion and the bait 17 is slowly elevated with the sheet of glass -15, adhering thereto, until the bait comes contact with the cross headet l, which is car ried forward, by the'movement of the bait until the. bait with the. sheet of glass depend-o ing therefrom has passed over the idlers 145, and the movement of the sheet of glass has beenchanged from a vertical direction to substantially that of a horiz'ontal plane in ing 18. For .the purpose of reducing the.

.which themovement is continued until the J intense area of the opening 53 after the bait and cross 'head. have been passed out, suitable dampers 54:54' are provided. When the bait has reached the outside of the housing 18, and the sheet of glass attached thereto has been deposited upon the movable carrier comprising the endless belt 24 the bait is thereupon detached from the sheet and with the sheet of glass extending over the upper horizontal portion of the belt 24: the rollers 31-31, are moved downward until the belt 41 comes iii' firm contact with the sheet deposed. upon the belt 2%. The actuating mechanism (not shown) operating to turn the sprocket wheel 26, is then set in motion which causes the roller 19 to rotate, which in turn carries upon its surface the endless belt PA causinga draft to be applied to the sheet of glass now disposed between the bolts 24 and. 41. For the purpose of increasing the draft, the rollers 3131 carrying the endless belt 41, may be moved downwardly and additional tension brought to bear between the belts 24 and il, thus providing any degree of draft desired to the sheet of glass being carried thereon.

The drawing bait with its accessories need not be again used until-it is desired to initiate another drawing operation, as with improved apparatus I am able to draw a continuous sheet as long as there isa suitable supply of glass within the tank to feed the flow of glass rising within the aperture 50 of the drawing receptacle 6.

As the sheet of glass emerges from the aperture 53 in the rear end of the housing 18, any-suitable means may be employed for supporting the same and moving it forward to a cutting table, where it may be severed into suitable lengths by methods well known in the Many of the features of this invention may be used without employing all of them, and some of those which are non-essential may be omitted without departing from the spirit of the invention though the omission may to a greater or less extent affect the quality of the product. Moreoverthe' apparatus portionpf the invention is capable of receiving various mechanical expressions 7 without departing froin'thespirit of-the invention itself. s.

Having tlLUSflG/SOIQlJQCl my invention what 4 I cl aim, and desire to secure by Letters l?atcut, is:

l. The method of making sheet glass,

which consists in creating within a mass of molten glass, an area of relatively reduced temperature bysurrounding a portion of which consists in reducing the temperature in a bath. of molten glass by isolating a portion thereof within an area surrounded by a hollow refractory'body, partially separating from the molten mass, the portion from which the sheet edge is' drawn by interposition between .such edge producing portion and the mass of glass in said tank, a refractory body, regulating the temperature of the various portions of the bath by adjusting the depth of immersion of the refractory body, and drawing a sheet of glass from within said refractory body.

3. The method of drawing sheet glass, which consists in creating a glass drawing zone of relatively reduced temperature in a bath of molten glass, by surrounding said zone with a hollow refractory body, extending outwardly the sheet edge producing portion over said refractory body, regulating the outward extension of each sheet edge producing portion by adjusting the depth of immersion of either end of the refractory body, drawing a sheet of glass from within said refractory body, resting said sheet upon a suitable carrier, continuing the drawing operation by applying draft to the sheet through the frictional contact of the sheet with said carrier.

4:. The method of drawing sheet glass, which consists in creating a glass drawing zone of relatively reduced temperature in a bath of molten glass, by surrounding said zone with a hollow refractory body, reducing the depth of the mass of molten glass from which the sheet edge portions are drawn, regulating the depth of each sheet 

